Milliard waived to court on arson charges

August 15, 2012

By

Colin Deppen

JOHNSONBURG - A Ridgway man, part of the father-and-son team charged with arsons committed in Johnsonburg and Ridgway in 2008 and 2012, respectively, was waived to court Wednesday on charges relating to the former.
Anthony Karl Milliard, 28, of Ridgway, was waived to court Wednesday before District Judge George "Tony" King on charges relating to a Dec. 4, 2008 arson at 115 First Ave. in Johnsonburg, a property belonging to his father, Francis Anthony Milliard, 54, of Ridgway.
According to the criminal complaint against him, Anthony Karl Milliard, in speaking with police, said that he had set fire to the residence at the prompting of his father, who intended to collect insurance money for the loss.
In a statement to police, Anthony Karl Milliard said he was awoken by his father in the early-morning hours of Dec. 4, 2008, with his father taking him out of the house and giving him gasoline and a rag with instructions to go inside and set the fire.
Anthony Karl Milliard said he poured gasoline inside the residence and ignited the fire, telling police that the combustion blew him from the porch.
According to the criminal complaint, insurance records show that Francis Milliard eventually received $8,888.49 through the insurance policy on the home.
For his alleged involvement in the First Avenue fire, Anthony Karl Milliard was waived to court on the following felony charges: intent to destroy an unoccupied building; conspiracy to commit arson with intent to destroy unoccupied building; arson with intent to collect insurance; reckless burning or exploding of places or property having value that exceeds $5,000 or automobile, place; criminal mischief; false, fraudulent, incomplete insurance claim; and the ungraded offense of disorderly conduct.